Slated launches in the UK on the 3rd of May with Orchard Books! Getting to this place – published author – has been a bumpy road. I've seen Dear Me and Dear Teen Me, where contributors write a letter to their teenage selves with advice. I think my younger self could tell me a thing or two. My 17 year old self has kindly offered to interview me about what took so long...
Almost celebration time!!
Me: 17, hand from teleporter reaching for shoulder.... |
An ABE is an Author
Blogging Emergency. And I’m… you.
Get out of here. <circles around, eyes up
and down: looks unimpressed>
Really, honest.
Just a few years into the future: one day, you’ll be me.
Decades, don’t you mean? And what’s with the
accent? <runs to the window> Toto, this doesn’t look like Canada anymore.
We live in England
now, and –
Wait a minute. Did you say ‘author’? We are
an author? <claps hands> How many best sellers have we had? Are we famous?
Um, well, you see, <picks up copy of Slated, holds it up> this is our first book. It’s out
on Thursday.
What took so long? We decided to be a writer
forever last summer!
Well, yes. About
that. It’s taken a while to, you know, get going with it <shuffles feet>
What have we been doing all these years?
You know, going to
university, studying stuff. Working. Took science and law but the law thing
wasn’t really the deal. Moved to Australia and became an optometrist, and then –
Australia? <looks out window at grey
skies, pouring rain> What are we doing here then?
We’re MARRIED? No way. You didn’t change our
name, did you? <looks at book cover> OMG. You DID. We’re TERI TERRY now?
Are you insane?
Well, as a name it is hard to forget. And I DID do what I said I would do that summer: I wrote! Actually Slated is my ninth novel.
Well, as a name it is hard to forget. And I DID do what I said I would do that summer: I wrote! Actually Slated is my ninth novel.
You said it was our first.
Did the others all suck, then?
Well, no, I don’t
think they sucked, exactly. But I was learning how to write, finding the right
story to tell…
What about Slated, then? Is it any good?
<examines book suspiciously> Cool cover, I suppose. She looks kinda freaky.
What’s it about?
Well there is this
girl, Kyla, who has been Slated. She’s a criminal, or she was one I mean: a
terrorist. So the government stole her memories away, and –
You really need to work on that. Geez. <rolls
eyes; reads cover blurb> How about this: "Imagine waking up one day and not knowing you are,
where you come from; what crimes you committed to have this done to you. Then
the past whispers that it is all a lie…"
What’s a blog?
You know, websites where people say stuff. On the internet.
The inter-what?
Um, sort of like computers linked up, all over the world. You can talk to people on it, too.
The inter-what?
Um, sort of like computers linked up, all over the world. You can talk to people on it, too.
So basically, you've stuffed around for years and years before you finally wrote a book that was any good, and now you stuff around on blog thingys on the inter-wotsit.
<squirms> That's pretty much it.
Are we at least having an awesome launch party for the book? What are we wearing?
<squirms> That's pretty much it.
Are we at least having an awesome launch party for the book? What are we wearing?
A big party, yes!
But haven’t quite worked out wardrobe yet… <holds up a dress> Maybe this
one?
You CAN’T be serious. <walks to wardrobe,
paws through and chucks clothes on the floor> Right. Before you send me
back, we’re going shopping.
While Teri is off shopping with her 17 year old self, please enter to win a copy of Slated, over at the Demention giveaway here, or on Goodreads! She's also found the time for a few interviews and blogs, listed on her website, here.
Great post, Teri! Just goes to show that good things do come to those who wait (and keep trying!) Good things come to those who wait! Happy shopping....
ReplyDeleteGreat dialogue. It's amusing seeing you channeling your seven-year-old self and focusing on the contrast between her and yourself today.
ReplyDeleteYour books sounds interesting. Nice premise.
thanks!
DeleteGreat eighties flashback - did your 17 year old self talk you into big hair and shoulders for the launch party?
ReplyDeleteI don't know why you bother writing dark novels ... you're very funny. You should be doing stand-up in smokey pubs!
ReplyDeleteI've got an advanced case of Launch Brain just now. I just can't seem to be serious for more than about a minute at a time...
DeleteThe perm looks really good btw!
Deletemaybe should get one for Thursday? to go with the shoulders pads
DeleteDon't let her choose, Teri - it's going to have BIG shoulder pads!
ReplyDeletenot that there's anything wrong with that :O)
DeleteI actually think you've packed a lot in since 17 - what with all the different countries and stuff!
ReplyDeleteI don't think my seventeen your old self would have shut up enough to let me get a word in edgeways - well done on all counts Teri!
ReplyDeleteHah! Great idea for a post! And 9 books... WOW! Congratulations on such a big moment for you, after years of hard work!
ReplyDeleteLOL - very funny and entertaining. You've made me smile this morning :)))
ReplyDeleteI think my teen self would be very surprised to see what I'm up to and would tell me off for not starting sooner.
ReplyDeleteGreat blog Teri! My teen self says 'So your school reports suck as always ... Tries hard, but lacks confidence'. So what's changed? Well I keep on trying, sometimes the confidence gets knocked, but hey ho, I'm still enjoying all the success of my amazing Scoobie friends. Enjoy Thursday Teri
DeleteBrilliant post, made me chortle! And best of luck with Slated. Sounds interesting. Ninth novel? You're an inspiration. Go get 'em!
ReplyDeleteCongratulations, Teri! On the book and the blog. I hope you will do a follow-up in five years time showing her your shelf of bestsellers!
ReplyDelete